The flesh of bovines has been eaten by hunters from prehistoric times; some of the earliest known cave paintings such as those of Lascaux show aurochs in hunting scenes.

Domestication of cattle occurred around 8000 BC, providing ready access to beef, milk and leather. Most cattle originated in the Old World with the exception of bison hybrids. Examples include the Wagyu from Japan, Ankole-Watusi from Egypt, and longhorn Zebu from the Indian subcontinent.

Cattle were widely used across the Old World for draft animals (oxen), milk production, or specifically for meat production, depending on local needs and resources. With mechanization of farming, some breeds were specifically bred to increase meat yield, like Chianina and Charolais or improve texture like the Murray Grey, Angus or Wagyu. Some breeds (dual-purpose) have been selected for meat and milk production, like Brown Swiss (Braunvieh).

Here are some chronological facts about cattle in the Americas.

1493 Christopher Columbus introduces cattle to the Western Hemisphere on his second voyage to the New World.

1519 Hernando Cortez brings first cattle to North American continent, setting up ranches in Mexico. Often the cattle roamed wild and later came to the United States by way of Texas and California. Around the same time, a cattle industry is also emerging in Florida.

1620 An estimated 500-head herd of cattle were established in Virginia and by 1639 there were over 30,000.

1625 Cattle from England and northern Europe begin arriving in New York.

1779 First cattle trail in North America, from San Antonio, Texas to the Louisiana Territory.

1852 Railroads reach Chicago from East, adding to the westward spread of livestock raising and feeding. Five different railroads establish their own stockyards there.

1862 President Abraham Lincoln creates the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to administer agricultural programs. It is called the “people’s department” because farmers make up more than half of the population.

1883 First national gathering of cattlemen called by U.S. Commissioner of Agriculture, George Loring. A permanent organization, The National Cattle Growers Association, is established at a second meeting in 1884.

1884 Along with the establishment of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Animal and Plant Inspection Service is established as part of USDA.

1886 Worst ever recorded winter for cattle producers, putting many western producers out of business.

1904 First livestock auction market opened in Union, Iowa. By 1952, there are 2,500 public auctions.

1904 A reporter for the New York Tribune writes from the St. Louis World’s Fair of a new sandwich called a hamburger. Fletcher Davis is credited with inventing the hamburger, which consisted of fried ground beef patties served with hot mustard and sliced onions on homemade bread.

1906 U.S. Food and Drug Administration established to ensure wholesome and truthfully labeled foods; first Food Administrator, Herbert C. Hoover, appointed in 1917.

1968 Cattle-Fax is established to provide cattle and beef industry statistics and market and economic analysis.

1978 The Humane Slaughter Act of 1978 dictates strict animal handling and slaughter practices which are closely monitored by government inspectors.

1985 Farm Bill creates Beef Promotion and Research Act establishing the Beef Checkoff Program and enabling cattle producers to create, finance and carry out a coordinated program of research, industry and consumer information and promotion. Beef checkoff collections of $1 per head begin.

1987 Beef Quality Assurance program officially started to help beef producers meet customer expectations for safety and quality.